The TAEL (Terrain-Aware Evaporation Lag) Model is BikeScout’s algorithm designed to solve the "Post-Rain Paradox": why do trails remain saturated even after hours of direct sunlight? Unlike basic weather apps, TAEL treats the soil as a dynamic capacitor that stores and releases moisture at different rates.
The Core Logic
TAEL operates on the principle that evaporation is not instantaneous. It calculates a "Lag Factor" based on three variables: Cumulative Precipitation (72h), Soil Drainage Class (Clay, Loam, Sand), and Photonic Energy flux.
Index = (Precip_72h * Drainage_Coeff) / (Temp_Efficiency + Solar_Persistence)
Drainage Coefficients
Different surfaces have different "memories". TAEL assigns specific weights to soil types detected via MCP surface sensing:
- Clay/Compact: High retention, slow lag (Mud risk remains high for 48h+).
- Gravel/Fine Gravel: Low retention, fast lag (Quick recovery).
- Forest Loam: Variable lag based on organic saturation.
Tactical Advantage
The TAEL Model provides a mud_risk_score from 1 to 100. This is used by the AI to suggest tire tread patterns and pressure. If TAEL predicts a "Saturation Lock", the briefing will recommend higher-profile knobs and lower PSI, even if the current sky is clear.